Just before he took over as the state’s chief administrative judge, Robert A. Mulligan began meeting with the court system’s department heads, chummy meet-and-greet sessions that gave the incoming boss a chance to get to know his top lieutenants.

The independent counsel investigating the Massachusetts Probation Department has found strong evidence that suspended commissioner John J. O’Brien manipulated his agency’s hiring and promotion process to advance applicants with insider support.

The troubles at the state Probation Department go way beyond patronage. Key programs have gone astray, with bloated budgets and indifferent management; caseload reports are wildly exaggerated; and a culture of secrecy has enveloped it all.

Just because all your friends were handing out jobs, commissioner, didn’t make it right. In fact, the jury said, it was a broad criminal enterprise.

Editor's note

On May 23, 2010, the Globe Spotlight Team published the first in a series of reports about rampant patronage hiring in the state's Probation Department. The reports led to a criminal investigation. Top officials have been convicted of mail fraud, racketeering and conspiracy.